Studied by 0 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
What was the Byzantine Empire? What was its principal language?
The Byzantine Empire was the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire, lasting from 330 to 1453 CE, with its capital in Constantinople. It preserved Roman law, Greek culture, and Christian traditions. Greek was its principal language.Justinian I was a Byzantine emperor who sought to restore the Roman Empire’s glory, while Theodora, his wife, was a powerful empress and advisor. She played a key role in politics, particularly during the Nika riots.
Who were Justinian and Theodora?
Justinian I was a Byzantine emperor who sought to restore the Roman Empire’s glory, while Theodora, his wife, was a powerful empress and advisor. She played a key role in politics, particularly during the Nika riots.
What was Justinian’s rule like?
Justinian’s rule was marked by military campaigns, legal reforms, and grand construction projects like the Hagia Sophia. However, it also faced challenges like the Nika riots and the plague
What were the Nika riots? What was the Hippodrome?
The Nika riots were a major uprising in Constantinople in 532 CE, centered at the Hippodrome, a stadium for chariot races. Justinian suppressed the riots, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.
What is an icon? What is iconoclasm?
An icon is a religious image used in Christian worship. Iconoclasm refers to the destruction of icons, which caused controversy in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries.
What is Japan’s geography like? Does it have much arable land? Does it have
earthquakes and volcanoes?
Japan is a mountainous archipelago with limited arable land. It is prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
How is Shintoism? How does it regard the Japanese emperor?
Shintoism is Japan’s indigenous religion, worshiping kami (spirits). It regards the emperor as a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, giving him divine status.
What is a shogun?
A shogun was a military dictator in feudal Japan who held real political and military power, while the emperor remained a symbolic figurehead.
What is a daimyo?
A daimyo was a powerful feudal lord in Japan who ruled large landholdings and commanded private armies of samurai.
What is a samurai and what was his role?
A samurai was a warrior in feudal Japan who served their daimyo with loyalty and followed the code of bushido. They were also administrators and cultural patrons.
What sort of social and economic structure did medieval Japan have?
Medieval Japan had a feudal structure with the emperor, shogun, daimyo, and samurai at the top, and peasants, artisans, and merchants below. The economy was agrarian, centered on rice.
What is feudalism?
Feudalism was a system where land was exchanged for military service and loyalty, creating a hierarchy of power and obligations.
What is bushido? Why was the samurai sword so important?
Bushido was the samurai’s ethical code, emphasizing honor and loyalty. The samurai sword, or katana, symbolized their soul and status.
What aspects of culture did Japan take from China?
Japan adopted writing systems, Buddhism, Confucianism, architecture, and governmental structures from China, adapting them to its own culture.
What was Heian Japan like?
Heian Japan (794–1185 CE) was a period of cultural flourishing and aristocratic rule, marked by literature, art, and courtly etiquette.
Who was Lady Murasaki and why is she remembered?What is a geisha?
Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji, considered the world’s first novel, providing insight into Heian court life.
What is a geisha?
A geisha is a traditional Japanese entertainer trained in music, dance, and conversation, preserving Japanese cultural traditions.
What is Angkor Wat? Where is it? Why was it built?
Angkor Wat is a massive temple complex in Cambodia, built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, later becoming a Buddhist site.
Where is Cambodia located relative to Thailand and Vietnam?
Cambodia is in Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand to the west and Vietnam to the east.
How did Cambodia’s predominant religious beliefs change over time?
Cambodia shifted from Hinduism to Theravada Buddhism, which became dominant by the 13th century.
Where is Korea and what is its geography like?
Korea is a peninsula in East Asia with mountainous terrain, fertile plains, and a long coastline.
How did Confucianism reach Korea?
Confucianism reached Korea through cultural exchanges with China, influencing its government, education, and social hierarchy.
What is Hangul?
Hangul is the Korean alphabet, created in the 15th century to promote literacy and replace Chinese characters.
How did Tang Dynasty China pick its government officials?
The Tang Dynasty used the civil service examination system to select officials based on merit and knowledge of Confucian classics.
What was the Great Buddhist persecution?
The Great Buddhist persecution (841–845 CE) involved the destruction of Buddhist temples and the forced return of monks to lay life under Emperor Wuzong.
Who was Emperor Wuzong? What was his rule like?
Emperor Wuzong was a Tang ruler known for anti-Buddhist policies and efforts to centralize power.
What are some major inventions or innovations of Tang and Song Dynasty China?
Inventions included gunpowder, the compass, paper money, and movable type printing.
What is foot-binding?
Foot-binding was a practice in imperial China where girls’ feet were bound to prevent growth, symbolizing beauty but causing lifelong pain.
What was the status of women like in the Song Dynasty?
Women in the Song Dynasty faced restrictions like foot-binding and limited education, though elite women still wielded influence.
Who was Marco Polo? How did he describe China?
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant who described China’s wealth, advanced infrastructure, and cultural sophistication in his writings.
Why might Tang and Song Dynasty China have produced so many great poets?
The Tang and Song Dynasties valued literature, supported by a stable economy and the civil service examination system, fostering creativity.
In what ways were Tang and Song Dynasty China meritocratic?
The civil service examination system allowed individuals to rise in government based on merit, promoting social mobility.
What is Neo-Confucianism?
Neo-Confucianism was a revival of Confucian philosophy during the Song Dynasty, incorporating Buddhist and Daoist ideas and emphasizing moral self-cultivation.
Why can the Tang and Song Dynasties be considered Golden Ages?
The Tang and Song Dynasties are considered Golden Ages due to their cultural, technological, and economic achievements, including advancements in art, science, and governance.
What was Justinian’s Code and why is it important?
Justinian’s Code was a comprehensive collection and organization of Roman laws, created under Justinian’s rule. It consisted of four parts: the Code, the Digest, the Institutes, and the Novellae. This legal code preserved Roman legal principles and influenced the development of legal systems in Europe for centuries. It is considered one of Justinian’s greatest achievements.
What was Justinian’s Code and why is it important?
Justinian’s Code was a comprehensive collection of Roman laws that preserved legal principles and influenced European legal systems. It is one of Justinian’s greatest achievements.
